UPSC Daily Current Affairs | Prelim Bits 17-08-2024

Huge reservoir of water under Mars

Seismic data from Mars reveals the presence of a vast underground reservoir of liquid water beneath the surface.

• Seismic data from NASA's InSight lander- Scientists discovered a large reservoir of liquid water deep under Mars' surface, based on seismic data from NASA’s InSight mission.
• Significance - The discovery enhances the understanding of Mars' geological history, including its water cycle, crust composition, and mineralogy.
• Water depth- The water is estimated to reside 7.2 to 12.4 miles (11.5 to 20 km) below the surface, capable of filling an ocean covering Mars globally.
• Microbial life- Conditions at these depths may have been favorable for microbial life in the past or present.
• Similar findings on Earth, where microbial life exists underground, suggest the possibility of life in Martian aquifers.
• Seismic wave analysis- Seismic waves measured by InSight indicated that the rocks in Mars' mid-crust are fractured and filled with liquid water.
• The new study found that water is embedded in fractured igneous rocks formed by the cooling of magma.

• Water on Mars- The presence of water on Mars was confirmed 16 years ago, but the existence of large underground reservoirs of water was hypothesized.

In 2008, NASA's Phoenix lander confirmed the presence of water ice on Mars, marking a pivotal discovery.

• Mars once had liquid water on its surface, in rivers, lakes, and possibly oceans, over 3 billion years ago.
• Much of this water may have seeped into the planet's crust rather than escaping into space.
• Over time, Mars' surface cooled, leaving the water in the form of ice or within its crust.
• Inaccessibility of water- Although large amounts of water exist in the mid-crust of Mars, it is embedded in small crevices and pores of rocks, located at depths between 11.5 to 20km below the surface.
• Drilling deep enough to access these water reservoirs is technically difficult.
• Accessing this water is extremely difficult due to Mars' low gravity and technical challenges in drilling at such depths.
• Tectonically active regions like Cerberus Fossae may offer alternative sites for accessing subsurface water.
• Additionally, protecting the Martian environment from contamination remains a major concern for future missions.

References

1. The Hindu | Huge underground reservoir of liquid water on Mars
2. The Print | NASA’s InSight lander

Monkeypox

Recently, World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Monkeypox or mpox outbreak a public health emergency of international concern amid an outbreak in Congo.

• Money pox- It is an infectious disease caused by the monkeypox virus.
• Virus- It is caused by the Orthopoxvirus genus in the Poxviridae family, which includes variola, cowpox, vaccinia, and other viruses.
• Discovery- It was first discovered in research monkeys in Denmark in 1958.
• The first human case was reported in a 9-month-old boy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1970.
• Transmission- Mpox spreads through direct contact with infectious skin, lesions in the mouth or genitals, and contaminated objects like clothing or linens.
• It can also be transmitted in community settings like tattoo parlors.
• Symptoms- Appear 1 to 21 days after exposure and include rashes, fever, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, back pain, low energy, and swollen lymph nodes.
• Diagnosis- It can be diagnosed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests, considered the gold standard.
• Treatment- There is no specific treatment approved for mpox.
• Healthcare professionals may treat mpox with some antiviral drugs used to treat smallpox, such as tecovirimat (TPOXX) or brincidofovir (Tembexa).
• Global Mpox Crisis-The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has declared the ongoing mpox outbreak in Africa as a public health emergency.
• The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that Sweden is the first country outside of Africa to detect the more lethal mpox strain, clade I.
• The mpox outbreak involves different strains (clades) of the virus.
  • Clade I, a more deadly variant, is circulating primarily in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and neighboring countries.
  • Clade II, the strain from the 2022 outbreak, has been detected in the US but without signs of the more dangerous clade I.
• More than 27,000 cases and around 1100 deaths have been recorded since January 2023 as the African nation battles its worst-ever outbreak.

References

1. The Hindu | Monkey Pox
2. Down to Earth | mpox strain

Earth Observation Satellite- 08

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) successfully launched the Earth Observation Satellite (EOS) -08 Earth Observation Satellite.

• EOS-08- It is a satellite designed for Earth observation and carries advanced technology for various tasks such as disaster monitoring, environmental observation, and surveillance.
• Launch- Using the Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV)-D3.

The SSLV is a rocket designed for quick, flexible launches of small satellites (10-500 kg) with minimal infrastructure, can carry multiple satellites simultaneously.

• Objective- To demonstrate consistent flight performance of the SSLV vehicle systems.
• To successfully deploy the EOS-08 satellite and SR-0 DEMOSAT into a 475 km circular orbit.
• Aim- The mission focuses on designing and developing a microsatellite with advanced payload instruments and new technologies for future satellites.
• Payloads- A total of 3 Payloads

• EOS-08 demonstrates several novel satellite technologies, improving efficiency and reducing the assembly, integration, and testing phases, thereby advancing India’s space capabilities.

References

1. PIB | EOS-08
2. Live mint | EOS-08

BHAVISHYA

Recently, the Department of Pension & Pensioners' Welfare introduced 'Bhavishya'.

• It is a comprehensive online platform launched by the Government to facilitate the pension sanction and payment process for retiring central government employees.
• It is part of the Digital India initiative, aimed at enhancing pensioners' ease of living by ensuring timely and accurate disbursement of pensions.

Bhavishya has been ranked 3rd best in NeSDA (National e-Governance Service Delivery Assessment), 2021.

• Objectives
  • Retirees should get all the retirement benefits on time and get the first pension & subsequent pensions on time.
  • Timely processing of cases at each level.
  • Alerts, Reminder & Notifications to concerned stakeholders for every action due & performed.
  • Online tracking of pension cases at retiree level.
  • Guide the retirees to fill in the forms as per CCS Pension Rules and take the necessary steps related to his/her retirement process on time.
  • Dignified life for pensioner
• Nodal agency- Ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions.
• Key features- Tracking System, SMS and Email Alerts, e-Sanction, 24x7 Access, Digi locker.
• Stakeholders-
  • Individual (Retiree & Pensioner)

o Drawing & Disbursing Officer (DDO)

o Head Of Office (HOO)

o Pay & Accounts Office (PAO)

o Directorate of Estates (DoE)

o Central Pension Accounting Office (CPAO)

o Pension Disbursing Banks

Reference

1. PIB | BHAVISHYA
2. NIC | BHAVISHYA

Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Amendment Rules, 2024

In pursuance of the Union Budget 2024-25 announcement, Department of Economic Affairs has amended the Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Rules, 2019.

• Foreign Exchange Management (Non debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 was issued under Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999.
• Aim - It aims to regulate the investment by foreign entities in non-debt instruments of Indian entities.
• Non-debt instruments consist of
  • All equity investment instruments in incorporated entities: public, private, listed, and unlisted
  • capital participation in Limited Liability Partnerships.
  • All instruments of investment recognized in the FDI policy.
  • Investment in units of Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvIts).
  • Investment in units of mutual funds or Exchange-Traded Fund (ETFs).
  • Acquisition, sale or dealing directly in immovable property.
  • Contribution to trusts
  • Depository receipts issued against equity instruments
• The Amendments
• The transfer of equity instruments of an Indian company between a person resident in India and a person resident outside India by way of
  • Swap of equity instruments
  • Swap of equity capital of a foreign company
• Enabling Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in White Label ATMs to boost financial inclusion nationwide.
• Harmonizing the definition of startup company with the definition of Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.
• Aim of the amendments - To Simplify rules and regulations for Foreign Direct Investment and Overseas Investment.
• Objectives - To simplify cross-border share swaps for greater Ease of Doing Business.
• To provide for the issuing or transferring of Indian company equity instruments in exchange for foreign company equity instruments.
• Benefits of Amendment - Facilitate the global expansion of Indian companies through mergers, acquisitions, and other strategic initiatives
• Enabling Indian companies to reach new markets and grow their presence worldwide.     

Reference

PIB | Foreign Exchange Management (Non-debt Instruments) Amendment